Panama coach Thomas Christiansen was delighted with his country’s victory over South Africa in Cape Town on Tuesday and said it was a boost to their morale ahead of the World Cup in June.
Panama won the warm-up international 2-1 after the two sides had drawn 1-1 in Durban on Friday.
“It's always important to win a game, for mentality, for the belief in what you're doing, how you approach this World Cup,” the Panama coach said after the encounter.
“We don't have many games left before the first official game. And so we have to use the time and the moment, and to build on what we have made all these years, showing that when we do the things right, we will get the results.”
Panama have a tough group at the World Cup, where they will meet Croatia, England and Ghana.
Playing against South Africa gave them a chance to test themselves against African opposition.
“I think it was a good game. We made a good performance in all aspects, and we created a very good result against a very good team … a team who will participate in the World Cup, and it's the first time we're winning against an African team, and that's not easy.”
IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
Christiansen said it was an improved performance from last Friday’s draw in Durban because his side had struggled then because of the long travel.
“Also, South Africa played very well in the first game. But after we did a great analysis, those corrections, those aspects, means that we're going in the right direction. We were up 1-0, then they scored a spectacular goal, but we had the capability to come back and win this game, so I'm very happy.
“Regarding the approach to the game, it was a different game, but the main idea of both was the same. Perhaps we were more aggressive, and that was my speech, message to the players, that today, we want to be a little bit more up, making good pressing, and closing some passing lanes in their building up,” the Danish-born former Spain international said.
“I think we made a good, good game serious game. I don't think we gave them too many options in the game, but that was also how close and together we were in our lines,” he added.